Car coupler



w. KeLs CAR, coUPLER June 24, 1924.

2 Shana-Sheet 1- Filed Jan. 51. 1923 Junev 24 1924.

w. KELSO CAR COUPLER Filed Jan. s1. 192s 2 SheeLs-Shee t 2 Patented .lune 24, i924.

entre f ort-IGEA WLLIAM KIELSG, OF ?ITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO THE MGCON W AY @c TORLEY COMPANY, O'F ."PEITSB'URGl-g EENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA,

CAR GO'UPLER,

Application filed January 31, 1923. Serial No. 616.122,

To all whomz't may 0072.067777.:

Be it known that L VILLIAM KnLso, a citizen of the United itatesq residing at Pittsburgh. in the county ot Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar Couplers; and I do hereby declare the tollowing to be a itulh clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains t0 make and use the same.

My invention relates tocar couplers, and particularly to the well known form termed the Master Car Builders standard D-coupler. virile the improvements hereinafter described and claimed are especially designed for the betterment ot the D-coupler, it is to be understood that said improvements are not limited in their application to that specific type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the lock lifter of a top operating D-coupler from dropping to a position precluding the coupler lock from being brought to an unlocked position by the coupler release rigging mechanism provided for that purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable means for preventing accidental unlocking of the coupler efficiently operating in conjunction with means for limiting the extent to which the lock lifter can drop with respect to the coupler lock. l

Outward rotation of the knuckle of the D-coupler is normally prevented by a vertically sliding and rearwardly swinging lock. When these couplers are applied to freight cars the coupler lock is generally actuated by a litter member movably connected at its lower end to the lock and eX- tending upwardly through the coupler head so as to be connected to a suitable uncoupling rod or release rigging mechanism. When the coupler lock and yits lifter are in normal locked relation the lower end of the lifter projects beneath a shoulder or lock down lugv with which the coupler head is provided. This relation ot the lock lifter to the shoulder or lock down lug of the coupler head is intended to prevent the lock from accidentally moving upward and assuming an unlocked position. In the D- coupler as at present constructed the association of a worn lock lifter with a coupler having a lock down lug which has been cast short or has become reduced in length Yley wear permits the lifter to descend beyond its normal position until the trunnions with which it is provided at its lower end pass out oit the litter receiving slot of the coupler lock. In this altered position of the lifter the coupler lock cannot be actuated by the release rigging devices intended to perform that function, To unlock a coupler under such conditions it is necessary for the trainman to go between the yCars where he can reach the lifter and then endeavor bv careful manipulation to restore its trunnions to proper position in the lifter receiving` slot oit the locking block. lf the litter cannot thus be returned to a position permitting it to be pulled past the lock down lugot the coupler head, it is necessary to cut the knuckle or other parts before the coupler can be dismantled. Under similar conditions oi? association of a short lock down lug and worn lifter, the disconnection of the uncoupling rod or release rigging from the lifter may result, if care is not taken,n in permitting the lifter to drop down into the interior of the coupler head. In that case also the destruction of the knuckle or other member of the mechanism is necessary before the coupler parts can be disassociated.

By my invention the defect incident to the presence of short lock down lugs or worn litters in the D-coupler as now constructed is obvia-ted; and this desirable result is achieved without necessitating any such change in the form of the lock or of the lifter as would prevent parts of the improved design trom being assembled with the present standard :torni of coupler head of this type. Coupler locks and lock litters embodying -the invention are thus capable of being" substituted for corresponding parts 0r" the usual Jform.

Vhen in locked position the lock of the Master Car Builders D-coupler is seated upon the knuckle opening lever of the mechanism. By reason of inequalities of manufacture of parts assembled in new D- couplers. the lower end of the depending leg of the coupler lock may assume a-position at the forward end of the opening in the bottom of the coupler head, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4; but this leg usually positions itself toward the rear of the openn the opening.

ing because the location of the center of gravity of the locking block is in advance of the point at which the lock rests upon the knuckle opening lever and naturally causes the depending legof the lock to assume a position at the rear of the opening or at some intermediate point thereof. Even where the lower end of the leg of the lock does not position itself at the rear of the openingof the coupler head when the device is new.r subsequent wear of the parts results in causing said leg' to assume a normal locked position in the rear part of The freedom of oscillation of the leg of the lock in the opening of the coupler head tends in service to induce re lease of the lock from the control of the means designed to prevent an accidental unlockingV of the coupler. is will be readily appreciated. the friction existing between the pulling` faces of the knuckles of connected car couplers causes the outer ends of Athe knuckles to move vertically with respect to each other when the cars pass over high or low points of railway tracks. The rear part of the knuckle which bears against thelocking block is thus caused. to perform vertical movements opposite in direction from those executed by the outer end of thc knuckle. Because of the friction between the knuckle and the lock these movements of the knuckle induced an upward creeping` of the lock of the lli-coupler. The ability of the lower part of the leg of the lock to move forward and backward to the extent of its clearance in the opening of the coupler head permits a` similar movement of the upper part of the lock. Due to the fric-tion between the lock and the lower portion of the lifter. this tends to cause the latter to move or be forced outwardly from beneath the shoulder or lock down lug with which the D-coupler head is provided, thus enabling the lock to complete an unlocking movement permitting accidental outward rotation of the knuckle. This defect of the D-coupler in permitting an accidental unlocking operation of locks which are actu ated by top operating release mechanism also is remedied by my invention.

ln the drawings illustrating' my invention as applied to a Master Car Buildersstandard D-coupler- Figure l is a vertical sectional viewv of a coupler, the lock. knuckle opener, knuckle and Alocklifter beine` in elevation, the parts vbeinrrin locked relation the lower end of the leg of the lock being shown as posi tioned in the forward part'of the opening` through the bottom wall of the coupler head.. i

Figure 2 is detail view 'corresponding vto Fig". l. `portions of the lock being broken away .and-'its"depending,leg` beingy shown as `po'sitmned in the rear end of the' opening through the bottom wall of the coupler head,

Figure is a detail view. partly in trans- `verse section and partly in rear elevation,y showing portion of the mechanism.

T'igjure a. Figure 5 and Figure 6 are views respectively;v corresponding' to Figs. l., 2 and 3, but illustrating a modification of the invention.

ln the drawings. l is the coupler head and 2 is the knuckle. he knuckle is rotatably mounted upon the coupler head by means of the usual knuckle pin Outward rota` tion of the knuckle is normally restrained by means of a locking` block Il having a depending' leg i which extends downwardly through an opening` 6 in the bottom wall of the coupler head. The lock 4- is capable of sliding' velticall'v and swinging rearwardlflvr in the coupler head upon being actuated by thc lock lifter l". Aft-er the lock 4l has been raised sufficiently to withdraw its upper portion from in front of the tail of the knuckle it executes a rearward swinging movement canning its depending leg 5 to press rear 'ardly against the knuckle opening lever S, thereln4 effecting a knuckle throwingrotation of the latter. rThis knuckle openingr number S. as employed in the D-coupler. is a horizontally rotatable lever pivotally mounted upon thc lower wall of the coupler head` oneV end of said lever being disposed in the path of rearward movement of the leg 5 of the lock and its other end extendin ,e behind the tail of the knuckle in position to communicate an uncoupling rotation to the latter. Then in locked position the locking' block 4l is supported by the knuckle opening lever 8.

The lifter T is slidably and pivotally connected to the lock 4f. For this purpose the upper end of the lock has an upwardly and rearwardly opening slot 9 for receiving the lower end of the lifter, the side walls of said slot being provided with guideways or re cesses l0 into which oppositely extending pintles or trunnions ll of the lifter project and within which said trunnions operate. These guideways are preferably formed with verticalli`- ertendinggr faces or shouldersy l2 which b v engaging` the respective trunnions ll compel the portion of the lifter which normally projects rearwardly beyond the lock to execute a preliminary upward movement before the lower end of said lifter can be drawn into the slot 9 of the lock so as to clear the usual lock down lug or shoulder l?. with which the coupler head l is provided.. lFor the purpose of compelling the lower end of the lock lifter 7 to perform a preliminary vertical movement toward the lock down lug 13 before said lifter can be withdrawn from beneath the latter, the lower end of said lifter also is preferably formed with a downwardly extend-ing portion or liu cienthv with respect to the lock a the lug 14 fit is adapted to enter the slot 9. the configura-- tion ot the lower wall of the 'latter being such that proper clearance for said lug is afforded when the lock and lifter execute their relative turning moveinei'its during the knuckle opening operation of the mechamsm.

To maintain the litter in such relation that it is capable of actuating the lock' l not-- withstanding that the lock down lug 13 may be of decreased length or the lifter may have been considerably worn in service. means are provided for limiting the extent to which the lower end ot said lifter may project rearwardly beyond said lug. These means are preferably pro-vided by forming the. lock e upon one side ot its slot 9 with a wall or lug 15 adapted to engage a neighboring trunnion 11. thus affording a stop arresting .1 downward movement of the lifter 7 beyond its proper normal position.

Upon pulling upwardly on the lifter 7 its lower end moves vertically toward the lock down lug 13 until ther trunnions 11 reach the up-per ends of the Jfaces 12 of their guideways 10 and the lower end le of the lifter is in position to pass into the slot 9 of the lock. After' this preliminary movement the continued upward pull upon the lifter causes its lower end to be retracted into the slot 9 of the lock, thus withdrawing it from beneath the lock down lug or shoulderl and thereby releasing the lock 4 so that it may perform an unlocking movement. As soon as the trunnions 11 reach the upper ends oit their guideways in the side walls of the lock the raising of the lifter causes the lock to move vertically until the knuckle 2 is unlocked. If the knuckle is tree to rotate a continued upward pull upon the lifter 7 Vcauses a rearward swinging of the depending leg 5 of the lock resulting in the well mown knuckle throwing operation of the knuckle opening lever 8.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. It, 5 and 6 the lower end of the lock lifter may be withdrawn from beneath the lock down lug 13 of the coupler head without first performing a preliminary vertical movement toward said lug. In this construction the guideways 16 of the lock 17 for receiving the trunnions 11 of the lifter 18 are so formed that an upward pull upon the upper end of the litter 18 causes its lower end immediately to initiate a retractile movement into the lifter receiving slot 19 of the lock, such movement being permitted not only by reason of the absence of shoulders 12 for engaging the trunnions of the lifter 18, but also because said lifter is unprovided with any part corresponding in torni or function to the lug` 14 with which the structure' heretofore described is furnished. Downward movement of the lifter 18 with respect to the lock 1T is limited by the engagement of one of the trunnions of said lifter with the wall or stop lug'. 15 with which the lock is provided. Except for the differences referred to the device illustrated in Figs. 4., 5 and 6 is preferably the same in construction as that disclosed in Figs. 1. 2 and 3 and heretofore described: and accordingly similar parts have been identified by corresponding reference numerals.` Y

1. In a. car coupler. the combination with a coupler hea d. knuckle. and vertically movable lock for said knuckle. of a litter for actuating said lock. said lifterI being operatively connected to said lock so as to be slidably and pivotally movable withrespect thereto, said hea-d being provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the lower end of said lifter to prevent accidental unlocking ot said lock. the lower end of said lifter being adapted to project beyond said lock beneath said shoulder. said lock being formed with a slot for receiving said lifter which opens upwardly and also opens through one of the sides of said lock. said litter being provided with means tor engaging said lock to prevent said lifter from being withdrawn from beneath said shoulder until after it has executed a preliminary movement toward said shoulder. and said lock and lifter being provided with cooperating means for limiting the extent to which the lower end of said lifter may project beyond said lock.

2. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head, knuckle. and vertically sliding and rearwardly swinging lock for said knuckle, of a lifter for actuating said lock. said head being provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the lower end of said lifter to prevent accidental unlocking of said lock. said lifter 'being furnished with oppositely extending trunnions and its lower end being adapted to project beyond said lock beneath said shoulder. and said lifter also having a downwardly projecting lug which normally overlaps said lock to prevent said lifter from being withdrawn from beneath said shoulder until after it has eXecuted a preliminary movement toward said shoulder, and said lock being provided with an upwardly and rearwardly opening slot Jfor receiving said lifter and having guideways for respectively cooperating with said trunnions and also being provided with a lug for engaging one of said trunnions to limit downward movement of said lifter with respect to said lock.

3. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head` knuckle.y and rertically sliding and rearwardly swinging lock tor said knuckle, of a litter for actn wing' said lock,

' l litter being' Atermed with o'opositely said extendingtrunnione. Said lool; being; provided at its upper end with an upwardly' and rearwardly opening slot whose siy walls are formed w'th guidewaye for receiving trunnions carried by said littern Said lock being' provided at one side ot said slot with a lug' adapted to engage a trunniou oi" Said lifter to limit rearward movement ot' said trunnions in Said guidewayeA Said litter being Slidably and rotatably movable in said slot, Said head being provided witb a v'sborrder adapted to engage the lower end oit Said lifter to prevent accidental unlocking' ol'l Said lock, and the lower end oit' said litter being adapted to project beyond Said lock beneath said shoulder.

4r. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head. knuckle, and vertically slid ing and rearwardly swinging lock for Said knuckle, ot' a lifter tor actuatingsaid lock. said lock being' provided at its upper end with an upwardly and rearwardly openingl slot, said lifter being slidably and rotatably movable in Said slot and havingr oppositely extending trunnions projecting into guide ways formed in opposite walls ot said slot.

` said locl'being` provided at one side of Said slot witlra lug adapted to engage one of said trunnions to limit rearward movement of the lower end of said lifter with respect to Said lockv` one ot said guideways being formed intermediate its ends with a shoulder adapted to engage the adjacent t'runnion to compel the lower end of said litter to execute a preliminary upward movement be- Vlore actuating' Said lock, said bead being; provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the lower end of Said litter to prevei'it accidental unlocking ot Said locle and the ltr-,ver end of said lifter beingI adapted to project beyond said lock beneath said shoulder.

f3. 'ln a car coupler7 the combination a. coupler head., knuckle. and vertically slid ing` and rearwardly swinging lock tor said knuckle. said head being provided with :i shoulder adapted to engage the lower enc oit Said lifter to prevent accidental unlockirreY oi said lock` said lock being provided ai, iis upper end with an upwardly and rearwardly openingv slot, said lifter being slidably and rotatably niorable in said slot and having` a downwardly projecting` lug which normally overlaps said lock to prevent Said litter 'trom being' withdrawn from' beneath said shoulder until a'tter'it has executed a. preliminary movement toward said shouldcn and the lower wall of said Slot being` formed with a recess allowing` rotary movement of Said projecting` lug after it has been retracted into said slot.

ln testimony whereof aix my signature.

VVLLIAM `KE/LSO.

with 

